The Ultimate Splurge: The $5,800 Trousseau Kitchen Set from MoMA

Hold it right there. Yes, I'm talking to you. Sit down. No, seriously, sit down. Why? Because I'm about to show you the most crazy-expensive-awesome-so-beautiful-did-I-mention-crazy-expensive kitchen set ever. Take 43 kitchen tools, find the best possible version of that tool from around the world, put it all together in one starter set, and you have the $5,800 Malle W. Trousseau Kitchen Set, sold exclusively at the MoMA store. Holy smokes.

This is the stuff of kitchen dreams. Each product in the set has been selected for its "unparalleled functionality, beauty, and quality." A few examples of what's included: three Japanese Shun knives ("inspired by the techniques used in Samurai swords"); a Mauviel copper skimmer and ladle, stainless steel frying pan, and stock pot ("throwbacks to traditional French cookery made in Villedieu-les-poêles since 1830"); a one-of-a-kindcast iron pan ("a German artist with a passion for cast iron makes these pans"); leather apron ("hand cut calf’s leather with four brass eyelets, minimal finishing"); a German chicken cooker ("justly famous for high quality utensils made from natural clay"), among others.

The designers, Isabelle Mathez and Frederic Winkler, were apparently inspired to put together this kitchen set when their daughter left home and wanted to know what tools she needed to set up her own kitchen. (Side note: best graduation gift EVER.)